No. Its just some basic humor/friendly-ish jabbing. Its like when people put those Apple stickers on Microsoft stuff, its not see as vandalism, more as a joke or just done to be done. Nothing was broken or damaged so it really isn't vandalism (to me at least). And from the looks of the video, it wasn't easy to see it would be an Apple store.

I've seen those stickers on random things from store computers, hand dryers, store windows, ect... they aren't the owners of those items and thats the type of people I meant (mostly about store property/computers and its typically done by the workers themselves)

No, but it would help if you enjoyed MIT style pranks. This is one of my favorites [mit.edu]. Unlike the typical MIT prank, this one caused damage, though (they used screws). The coolest part of this one, to me, was that they did it in plain daylight.

Vandalism? Really? They attached some signboard to a TEMPORARY FACADE, of which the only purchase is to cover the building while under construction. Had they done this to the building itself, you MIGHT have a point, given that the signboard were attached in a way that A) was reasonably difficult to remove or B) actually damages the building (nails, etc).

It's over-reacting like yours that has made the world see the US as a place where you can get sued for looking at someone funny. Thankfully I like in Canada where we have Justice's of the Peace that screen cases for stupid crap and tell the plaintive to screw off. Saves a TON of time/money the courts can use elsewhere.

You might not even find it funny but right now you're playing the role of giant stick in the mud. There's two pieces of that: not allowing any position between utterly unfunny and "hoo-hawing to the point of passing out", and insisting that anybody who doesn't think it utterly unfunny (and who is therefore "hoo-hawing" and "slapping [their] knees") must have a profound irrational emotional position to one or both of these companies.

It's a damn prank, not an attempt at the a transcendent humour experience. It's petty vandalism, and as such the vandals should pay back Apple any cost to undo the vandalism and accept the legally required slap on the wrist. But there's not much call to read any deeper into it. People do this all the time for sports rivalries that they don't even care about, they slap stickers for company A on their competitors' products, etc..

The fact that people who simply looked like they were supposed to be doing were able to put the logo of the company's rival on the Apple store does have comedic value,

It would if the building looked like an Apple store. It didn't so there was no reason for anybody to think twice about it. if they had pulled that off at the big Apple store in NYC, then they might have earned the title 'classic'.

I'm sure you - like the rest of us - saw the humor in the 'I'm a Mac' ads for Apple

Not really, they were pretentious.

...but since you are so emotionally invested in Apple you can't possibly see that.

In contrast to the *deep* understanding people infer in the purpose behind a giant Windows logo on a future Apple store location? W kind of message is that supposed to signify, exactly? "Learn about Windows"? "Apple couldn't stop someone from messing with their stuff"?

If you wanted to do the obscure, only geeks will understand, kind of joke the BSD devil would have been the things to do. Apple grabbed a lot of BSD code as the foundation of OS-X as such there would be a geek significance to that logo on their store.

However, as you say, nobody would get it. The power in this joke is MS is seen as Apple's principal rival and everyone knows their logo. It was a joke anyone could get.

Pretty much. I've seen people using Tux iconography in totally non-computer related areas, and half of the time they don't even seem to realize that it's a mascot for something - it's just this cute picture of a penguin they found online.

I've seen people using Tux iconography in totally non-computer related areas

I've seen Tux used on the front cover of a recipe book for cakes. I regret not having a camera phone on me at the time (and I wasn't going to buy a book just from the cover, though cakes are always nice...)

If only they did it multi layerd..as each layer was peeled off on the fascade..multiple prompts to surface...Are you sure you want take this logo down?This type of application can harm your computer...

Of course, there's no reason to believe these guys were paid, and even if they were it's just a bit of fun that I'm sure Apple employees got a chuckle out of. But not the fanbois! No sirree, everything is a war, and if MS does something like this, it's "creepy".

Creepy? Yeah, it kind of is, actually. I mean, it's cute, but... are they trying to make a point, aside from looking somewhat incompetent? Even worse if they're doing this on their own time for free, you think they'd do a better job in that case.

As an identified "fanboi" (I have occasionally passed a pro-Apple, or Apple-neutral comment, so that seems to qualify), I don't see this as "creepy" or "war" at all. It certainly has an air of 'aha, I see what you did there! It's funny because that's the Windows logo on an Apple store, and they're like, totally rivals!' way, but I thin I (and about a million other people) beat them to it - my Dell printer has an Apple sticker on it, as does my Sony MiniDisc deck.

A lot of great urban "redecorating" has gone on in the middle of the day. If you do something at night, people automatically assume you are up to no good. If you are dressed like construction workers doing something in the middle of the day, you are just another noisy thing in the way of them getting to their coffee and they ignore you. One of the more famous ones I can recall from my area was in Los Angeles, there is a horrible interchange that gets everyone lost, so a guy made a CalTrans spec sign and hung it himself (http://www.good.is/post/the-fake-freeway-sign-that-became-a-real-public-service/). A more recent one was a surfing Madonna mural put up in Encinitas (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/25/surfing-madonna-appears-encinitas/).

I was going to bring up the Downtown LA freeway "vandal" as well, here is the original LA Times story [latimes.com]. What's funny is Caltrans recently redid all of the signage on the 110 though downtown, and though they replaced his particular sign, they completely adopted his informational scheme for the 110-four level interchange, to the point that the signs downtown are almost strange in their helpfulness compared to the signs on the 405 on the Westside or around the 101 in the Cahuenga pass.

Since they are Apple's viral marketing team they can't use the Windows logo so they use a knock off. Notice in the article they don't mention it is the Windows logo.

This:
* Ensure that plenty of locals visit the store when it opens. "Hey, isn't this the store that had that wacky prank happen to them a few weeks back? We should go see if there have been any other shenanigans there within the last couple of days."

* Subliminal reminder that Apple can now run Windows if you use Boot Camp.

* It generally makes Windows users look desperate to Apple users, "Wow, they had to deface a store to feel better about their choice in OS". At the same time, it makes Windows users look funny and creative to other Windows users, "Haha! Stupid Apple store. This'll teach 'em! They're going to be so mad when they realize what we did!".

I'll say this, I didn't know they were opening a new store in Germany but I sure as hell know now.

Mac's can run Windows right? The opposite would more insulting I think in that OS X doesn't (at least not legally) run on non-Mac hardware. Perhaps find a vendor that has abandoned linux as a factory install option and rub it in that there is yet another OS that they are denying you:-)

I just place all "Designed for Windows" stickers that I find onto dumpsters and trash bins of various capacity. Does it mean that my sense of humor is far superior to those pranksters (not to mention that I make a valid statement)?

âoeNever imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.â â" Lewis Carroll

Yes, the same Apple that is behind Darwin, WebKit, Bonjour, and countless other open source projects. Don't get me wrong, their iOS devices are a nightmare in this aspect, but OS X is a very open platform.

OSX is open you say? Tell me when I can install it on any hardware of my choice without needing a lot of cracks/"patches", until then its not open but very, very closed and locked. As for Darwin and Webkit, those were made by other people, Apple just bought them out. Not quite the same as making it yourself.

Sure, take the OS X install DVD, which has no serial numbers, no online activation, no DRM, and no other protection, and make a disk image from it. Remove a text file with the name "please don't copy OS X.txt" (or something like that), and then burn the image to a disk.

Who's running hackintoshes in a business environment? If you need OS X for something specific then you're going to just buy Apple hardware. If your goal is to keep costs down then you won't be running hackintoshes, you'd just go with some flavour of Linux on those boxes, or an OEM copy of Windows.

For people like you, there's *nothing* short of being Open Source that counts as being anything but "very, very closed and locked". It's a mind-virus that can barely discern shades of grey.

Apple is a very open company. They are far more open than, for example, MS. Just because you can cite one example to the contrary does not make them so super-closed as you seem to think. After all, if they decided to allow install of OS X on non-Apple hardware, you'd just find something else to bitch about.

Oh node, how I love your trolling. Seriously, like those others posts your trolling of mine, you're taking one small part and twisting it beyond what it was. *sigh* That is the true mind-virus, the inability to see things clearly and twist them to something they aren't just to cause a scene. After reading all your posts, I've just lost the ability to take you serious. Your so quick to alter the fact and insult people. Is this how you act in real life? If so, you are a sad, sad little boy at the end of the d

Honestly, lets just take one small look at your joke of a reply. I said hardware and you're knee-jerk reaction was to quickly alter the facts and twist it into a psuedo-argument about OSX's software. I never said a single thing about the software, at least not until you brought it up

I wonder what the opening line to your post that I was replying to was. I bet it was about Mac OS X.

OSX[sic] is open you say?

Strange, that sounds like you are mentioning Mac OS X. But since you say you weren't, I'll just have to assume it was a mirage...

If I had mentioned in any of these posts "OSX is a locked down, walled garden OS that doesn't allow any freedom" then sure, I would be wrong and these comments would be fair and expected.

That's a red herring. You don't have to claim that OS X "doesn't allow any freedom" to be wrong. That statement *would* make you wrong, but you're plenty wrong without adding this specific wrong statement to your repertoire.

But I didn't say that, I said nothing remotely like it. In fact, it had been an argument about the hardware and what did Apple code. It has nothing to do with Open Source, it never did at any point. But you wanted it to be, and your posts show that.

I wonder what the opening line to your post that I was replying to was. I bet it was about Mac OS X.

Your right, OSX not running on open hardware (as in non-Apple hardware). Nothing about software (like I pointed out to you.)

OSX[sic] is open you say?
Strange, that sounds like you are mentioning Mac OS X. But since you say you weren't, I'll just have to assume it was a mirage...

Again,OSX running open... on hardware. Again, like I pointed out to you (and still nothing about the software...)

If I had mentioned in any of these posts "OSX is a locked down, walled garden OS that doesn't allow any freedom" then sure, I would be wrong and these comments would be fair and expected.

That's a red herring. You don't have to claim that OS X "doesn't allow any freedom" to be wrong. That statement *would* make you wrong, but you're plenty wrong without adding this specific wrong statement to your repertoire.

But its not a red herring. I've been talking about open hardware, and you've turned it into open software which had nothing to do with anything I had been talking about. I was showing you how your comments would have been valid with that example.

Like I asked in another reply to you, do you even READ the threads you participate in? The post of yours I was replying to mentioned Mac OS X, Darwin, and WebKit (and I even let your *huge* incorrect statement that "Apple merely bought them out" slide--see what I mean about you being wrong enough as it is?).

I wonder what the opening line to your post that I was replying to was. I bet it was about Mac OS X.

Your right, OSX not running on open hardware (as in non-Apple hardware). Nothing about software (like I pointed out to you.)

Mac OS X *IS* software! Mac hardware can run any OS you want! The reverse isn't true. It's not that Macs can ONLY run Mac OS X (they can run Windows and Linux just fine), it's that Mac OS X *WON'T* run on non-Macs!

The limitation you were referencing was a limitation with Mac OS X, not Apple hardware!

What makes you think that saying you can't run Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware is not saying anything about software?

But its not a red herring. I've been talking about open hardware, and you've turned it into open software which had nothing to do with anything I had been talking about. I was showing you how your comments would have been valid with that example.

You mentioned software *MULTIPLE* times before I ever replied to you!

Like I asked in another reply to you, do you even READ the threads you participate in? The post of yours I was replying to mentioned Mac OS X, Darwin, and WebKit (and I even let your *huge* incorrect statement that "Apple merely bought them out" slide--see what I mean about you being wrong enough as it is?).

Aww.... again you read only what you want. I pointed out that Darwin and Webkit were bought buy Apple,

And you think it's slavery when people choose to use a consumer product and/or service? This doesn't just apply to Apple - it applies to any consumer or user choice. I'm not sure you fully understand much beyond some distorted ideology where you're seeing tyrants and evil everywhere.

*sigh* I said nothing about the consumers of the products or services, I said about Steve Jobs and his comments about the walled garden being the safest option. Instead of reading what I wrote, you have quickly tried to twist my words and shown yourself to be completely ignorant of anything that I posted. User choice had nothing in what I said. Now please leave little troll, the adult are talking.

iOS, the "locked down, walled garden" that it is, is SIGNIFICANTLY more free for most people than something like Android or Linux in general. What good is the small bit of additional "freedom" to people who can't benefit from it?

That's the problem with fanatics, they only see things in black and white, and only from their point of view (which is why they can pretend grey doesn't exist).

That's the problem with fanatics, they only see things in black and white, and only from their point of view (which is why they can pretend grey doesn't exist).

Pot, meet kettle. How is this locked garden more free for people? It has caused a lack of options to choose different programs as Apple has killed just about any competition in its dealing (look about about the small ebook publishers). It hasn't made the iOS any safer, in fact it made it hazardous (look about the sms of death and how it was left open for 2 days and couldn't be fixed BECAUSE of iOS's locked down nature. And don't say it wasn't a real issue, because if you look on Apples forums there complain

That's the problem with fanatics, they only see things in black and white, and only from their point of view (which is why they can pretend grey doesn't exist).

Pot, meet kettle.

Oh, do please explain how I'm a fanatic, can't see shades of grey, or can't see other people's points of view. I'll just sit right here.

How is this locked garden more free for people?

For most people, is what I wrote. It's more free for them because they can do more with iOS than they can do with other systems, like Android or Linux. I figured this would be obvious when I wrote "What good is the small bit of additional "freedom" to people who can't benefit from it?", but I forgot my audience.

Oh, do please explain how I'm a fanatic, can't see shades of grey, or can't see other people's points of view. I'll just sit right here.

Well, I've already pointed out many issues with you before in he past, from Mac hardware prices being higher then other companies (which you tried to twist on me), to not long ago showing you that Mac isn't the most secure OS out there (which you demanded had to be regardless that I had your word against the word of professionals), to this topic where I mentioned about hardware and you've decided that instead of staying remotely on topic you'll derail it into OSX's software. But hey, keep sitting there, I k

Oh, do please explain how I'm a fanatic, can't see shades of grey, or can't see other people's points of view. I'll just sit right here.

Well, I've already pointed out many issues with you before in he past, from Mac hardware prices being higher then other companies (which you tried to twist on me),

You mean by showing that Mac hardware prices *aren't* higher than other companies? When you compare equivalent hardware, Macs are generally cheaper than Dells, for example. Sometimes they are more. You think that if you can find *one* example to the contrary (for example, when the MacBook Pros still had Core2Duos (which was done for technical reasons because Nvidia lost the right to make chipsets for the Core iX cpus, which is what Apple was intending to use)), that this proves "Macs are more expensive".

You mean by showing that Mac hardware prices *aren't* higher than other companies? When you compare equivalent hardware, Macs are generally cheaper than Dells, for example. Sometimes they are more. You think that if you can find *one* example to the contrary (for example, when the MacBook Pros still had Core2Duos (which was done for technical reasons because Nvidia lost the right to make chipsets for the Core iX cpus, which is what Apple was intending to use)), that this proves "Macs are more expensive".
This is what I mean by "black and white". You constantly only accept facts that support your preconceptions, and dismiss those that don't.

Ok, lets take your words here. Macs are cheaper then Dells. Lets see this with the facts and not your words (I'll be using Alienware since it is Dell and is more easy to mix and match parts to the Mac version, you can even see the link here [dell.com]):
Now, here [dell.com] is the starting point of an Alienware M17x (they don't make 15 inch models, just 14 and 17 now, which would leave me comparing to either a 13 inch or 15 inch MBP which isn't fair, so both are 17 inch models). I will also not be upgrading the Mac since the last time I did this with you, you declared it wasn't fair since Apple does have high upgrade fees. These are also BOTH customization sites so to compare you will have to follow the specs I'm listing and not alter them beyond what I'm listing or the answers will be different

Wireless card: Sorry, couldn't spot it so won't use it to compare at the end.

Optical drive: SuperDrive 8x (DVDÂ±R DL/DVDÂ±RW/CD-RW)

Price:$2,499.00

Both have backlit keyboards and free engravings (I'm pretty sure the Mac does at least11)

Now, in the end, for the most part they are about as even as I could make them (with a small amount of issues, the Dell has a better graphics card, the MBP has a higher screen pixel count). Price difference is $600. And it was you who pointed out the Dell would be more then the Apple. This was your choice. I'm just showing the fact. I could go through all the different model and will always have these kinds of differences. But if you wish, please prove me wrong while trying to keep the comparisons fair, I did by making sure to keep the MBP non-upgraded and altered the Dell configuration to the MBP's level as evenly and fairly as I could. See if you can do it, I'm not dismissing anything you'll show me if it's done in a fair manor. (unlike the last time I gave you mostly this exact comparison where you altered the Dell to have an i3 and lowered everything you possibly could and then upped the MBP settings to make it seem like price wasn't a good comparison since your new models didn't match hardware wise).

to not long ago showing you that Mac isn't the most secure OS out there (which you demanded had to be regardless that I had your word against the word of professionals)

Did you already forget we were talking about Apple products, an OSX was only one example? Did I say at any point of that comment anything about OSX to single it out? Or did you mentally add it just to make this comment to me?

Me: OSX isn't open on the hardware level, show me the hardware it runs on openly. (haven't said anything about the software level, like programs and such)

Do you understand what your talking about? You've twisted what I was talking about just so you could go on some rant, for what? To make yourself feel better? Your the one who turned this into an difference between iOS and OSX's software openness. All I pointed out was about that hardware, the HARDWARE. But you in your blind fanaticism wanted to turn this i

Sorry, just have to chime in here. Uhhh...you DO know that Apple is bringing the app store to OSX via lion, yes? So frankly any arguments of iOS VS OSX are about to be made moot anyway. Apple WILL lock down OSX, just as they have iOS, Apple WILL control the whole smash, again just as with iOS, and Apple fanboys WILL declare that locking them into a walled garden is the greatest thing since sliced bread and we're all haters who just "don't get Steve's vision".

Me: OSX isn't open on the hardware level, show me the hardware it runs on openly. (haven't said anything about the software level, like programs and such)

So, you didn't write:

OSX is open you say?

or

As for Darwin and Webkit, those were made by other people, Apple just bought them out.

or

I do, I also know that slavery isn't freedom regardless of what Steve Jobs says about the locked down walled garden.

???

Someone made a comment about freedom and anarachy, nothing about OSX's software,

Really? So you didn't mention OS X or other Apple software, and neither did one of the people in this thread write:

Yes, the same Apple that is behind Darwin, WebKit, Bonjour, and countless other open source projects. Don't get me wrong, their iOS devices are a nightmare in this aspect, but OS X is a very open platform.

Don't you understand that these are software?

I then mentioned the walled garden in response to the AC's comment about freedom.

Which was a direct continuation of you saying Mac OS X wasn't free!

I haven't said anything about OSX's software freedom, that was something you made up.

So, all those quotes of yours I just "made up"?

When are you going to start actually READING the posts you are replying to? Do you know what discussions are? What threads are?

I don't know, a picture of Stallman might have been a better shot. One of the biggest names in OSS over the sign for a company well noted for being the most closed in technology.

And no one would have gotten the joke. People would have said "What's up with the dirty hippie on the Apple store"? Everyone knows the Windows logo. Outside of the Slashverse, a few academics, and some industry people, no one knows who Richard Stallman is or what he stands for. And even if they did, it still wouldn't have been as funny as the Windows logo.

I doubt MS paid a cent for this. Its like when people put those Apple stickers they get in an iPod/Phone on things. Its not done because Apple paid them to do it. In fact, these people may very well have done this in a counter-culture-ish move of those Apple stickers. Or it could have been some people doing something randomish like a flash mob, or even Apple-haters.